NPA kidnappers use landmines against troops as rescue operations continue in Bukidnon by Norman M. Tagros
BUKIDNON – Troops of the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division clashed with more or less 10 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) kidnappers coming from Section Committee 89, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee around 12:10 p.m, April 5.
Lt. Col. Lennon G. Babilonia, 8IB commanding officer, said an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion—perpetrated by the retreating bandits—followed as the troops maneuvered towards NPAs position after about 10 minutes of gun battle in a forested area near Barangay Manalog, Malaybalay City. Two soldiers were slightly wounded by IED shrapnel during the firefight as casualties on the rebels' side are still being determined. The wounded soldiers were immediately brought to a military hospital for proper medications while the pursuit operations by the 8IB to rescue their police counterpart continue. The joint rescue operations of the Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) pushed through the dense jungle along the boundaries of Malaybalay City and Impasugong town after NPA bandits abducted two police officers on Sunday, April 3, 2016. SPO1 Warren Coñales and PO3 Edwin Castor, along with a retired PNP personnel and 3 other civilians, were held at gunpoint and kidnapped by NPA bandits who established road blockade and flagged down commuters along Sayre Highway in Brgy. Capitan Bayong, Impasugong, Bukidnon. The civilians were released after about nine hours of being captive while the retired PNP personnel was released on Monday, April 4, around
8:40 a.m. In his recent statement, Lt. Col. Lennon G. Babilonia INF (GSC) PA, condemned the NPA for adding insult to injury. "We condemn the NPA, especially their deceitful leaders, for its continued violations of the law and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), and for deliberately sowing violence and fear among the populace and the community just to fuel their ill-motivated, extortionacquainted, dirty tactics-filled fund raising cause which is mercilessly aimed at filling the pockets and quenching the voracious appetite of corrupt NPA leaders. Arson, bombings, murder and kidnapping seem to be the most effective, nay favorite fund raising approach that this bandit group has mastered. Nonetheless, your Army, the 8th Infantry Battalion, together with our PNP, will continue to be on the people's side by securing our communities and bringing these perpetrators to justice. With your help, we can be very effective in fulfilling our mandate and win the peace in this beautiful province of Bukidnon," Lt. Col. Babilonia said.
4.2 Billion NDRRMF infra projects in NorMin inspected CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Calamity Fund Management Unit of the Office of Civil Defense led an inspection of completed and ongoing national and local infrastructures in Northern Mindanao with 79 projects totalling to P4,002,747,452.22. The projects were approved after the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted by the OCD and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Region 10 in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Sendong that wrought damages and losses in the region. The PDNA for TS Sendong was the first government-led PDNA in the country anchored on the Buildingback-better-and-safer principle using the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) methodology. OCD 10 processed the requirements for accessing the NDRRM Fund for the projects identified and prioritized under the PDNA and the funds released to DPWH as the implementing agency. Among the major infrastructures include: 753 Million flood wall at Barangays Carmen, Kauswagan and Balulang along the Cagayan de Oro River; 150 Million replacement of Barra-Kauswagan Bridge in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental; 230 Million reconstruction of Cabula/ Nicdao Bridge in Baungon, Bukidnon; 140 Million reconstruction of Tumalaong
Bridge in Brgy Lingating, Baungon, Bukidnon; 87 Million reconstruction of Dike along Mandulog River in Brgy Santiago, Iligan City; 290 Million reconstruction of revetment and seawall in Brgy Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City; 50 Million replacement of drainage structure to Libona bridge along Manolo Fortich-Libona-Indahag road in Libona, Bukidnon. Aside from these, NDRRM Fund recently released: 700 Million for flood control projects along Iligan river; 63 Million for the water systems in three relocation sites in Cagayan de Oro City; and 11.9 Million for replacement of footbridges in Libona, Bukidnon. Conducted on 14-16 April 2016, the inspection team comprised of representatives of CFMU, DPWH, NEDA, and OCD, with the local chief executives and disaster risk reduction and management officers (LDRRMOs) of the concerned local government units (LGUs). The inspection was conducted April 14-16, 2016. (OCD10)
Reclassification of lot for NHA-AFP-PNP housing project okayed CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Supporting the implementation of the housing project that will benefit police and military personnel, the City Council of Cagayan de Oro during its regular session enacted Ordinance No. 13056-2016, reclassifying the land use from agricultural to residential of two parcels of lot at Sitio Mangalay in Barangay Dansolihon. The private lots with an area of 26,603 square meters and 8,687 square meters are covered by Transfer Certificate of Title Nos T-184548 and T-21524, respectively. This will be the site of the NHAAFP-PNP housing project named as the CDO Midland Valley Homes. The reclassification of the area was reviewed and favorably endorsed by the committees on subdivision chaired by Councilor Alexander S. Dacer and on laws and rules chaired by Councilor Ramon G. Tabor, noting the certification of the Barangay Chair of Mambuaya. According to Punong Barangay Fernando N. Daug, the properties are adjacent to each other and are included, identified and designated in the Comprehensive Barangay Development Plan for residential use. The City Planning and
Development Office (CPDO) interposed no objection to the reclassification of the lots provided that certain conditions are complied with. According to the CPDO, the project site must be exclusively used for the NHA-AFP/PNP Housing project and should not adversely affect the appropriate use of the area based on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) nor be a precedent to other land reclassification. Another requirement is that the project should provide social services such as health, education, transportation, and livelihood to the community. (CdeOSP)